News from the Government

New funding rate announced

Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan, has announced the new average funding rate for the early years. The average hourly rate for free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds will be £4.88 including the EYPP, and for free 2 year old childcare will be £5.39. She also announced that a national early years funding formula review will be conducted in 2016. Earlier the Chancellor announced some changes to the 30 hours free childcare eligibility in the Spending Review. To be eligible parents needs to be working the equivalent of 16 hours per week per parent at the national minimum wage, and earning less than £100,000 per parent.

DfE FAQs about free childcare for 2,3 and 4 year olds

The DfE has prepared a FAQ document about the free childcare entitlement. The document answers questions about eligibility, funding rates, EYPP and government investment in the early years.

DfE Publications on cost of delivering childcare

The DfE has published a study into how much it costs for childcare providers to manage the free early education entitlement for children aged 2 to 4.

Another publication, the review of childcare costs, details the current costs of childcare to providers, and the current demand and supply of childcare places for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds.

Childminders and the new 30 hours entitlement

Sue Robb, Head of Early Years at 4Children, recently hosted a live TV question and answer session for childminders and their role in delivering the 30 hours entitlement with early years colleagues at the DfE. A recording of this session is now on YouTube and can be found here.

EYFSP by Pupil Characteristics

The DfE has published additional information to the EYFS Profile Results 2014-2015. The additional tables provide national and local authority-level information on EYFSP attainment by pupil characteristics, specifically:

gender

ethnicity

eligibility for free school meals

special educational needs

English as a first language

month of birth

deprived areas

Use of EYPP – early implementer providers

Seven local authorities implemented the early years pupil premium three months earlier than the rest of the country from January –March 2015. Their purpose was to test application, funding and eligibility checking systems prior to full roll out. They also collected case studies from providers about how they used the EYPP. A summary of some of their findings can be found here.